And new haven automatic sprinkler com



2 sheets sheet 1. "0.1H. SIMMONS 88 J. R. HBPBURN;

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUIYSHING SYSTEM. No. 416,867. Patented Dec. 10,1889.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. H. SIMMONS & J. R. HEPBURN.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUI SHING SYSTEM.

No. 416,867. Patefited Dec. 10, 1889.

awuamlfouv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

CHARLES H. SIMMONS AND JAMES R. HEPBURN, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNORS l TO THENEW YORK AND NEW HAVEN AUTOMATIC PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRINKLER COM- AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUYISHING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,867, dated.December 10, 1889.

Application-filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 305,477- (ITo model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. SIMMONS and JAMES R. HEPBUBN, bothcitizens of the United States, and residents of Brooklyn, in

the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Systems, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to the automatic fireextinguishing systems known as the dry-pipe systems, in which the gangsof pipes running throughoutthe building to be protected and providedwith the closed sensitive sprinklers are connected to a commonsupply-pipe leading from an elevated tank or other supply of water underpressure, and provided with a valve by which the water is normallyexcluded from the sprinkler-pipes and the air in the sprinklerpipes,together with the communicating main supply-pipe, is normally maintainedat a different pressure from the atmosphere, so that in case any of thesprinklers are opened by fire near the same the air-pressure in thepipes will change to that of the atmosphere, which change of'pressure isarranged by automatic controlling devices to open the main water-supplyvalve, thereby allowing the water to throw itself from such of thesprinklers as are opened upon the fire and extinguishthe same.

Devices 'for automatically opening the main Water-supply valve when theabnormal airpressure in the pipes is relieved have heretofore beenemployed, consisting of a diaphragmatic chamber in communication withthe closed pipes and having its movable diaphragmatic wall in operativeconnection with the secondary valve of an automatic differentialgovernor-valve used as the main supply-valve. Y

The main object of our invention is to provide for the use of a commonsingle-acting valve as the supply-valve and the direct and certainoperation of the supply-valve on the outbreak of fire.

A further object is to conveniently provide for the locking of the mainsupply-valve in.

an open position, so that the system can be A Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-I Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view-of part of a buildingprovided with an automatic fire-extinguishing system embodying ourinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged eleva tion, partlysectional, ot' themain water-sup ply valve and automatic valve-controlling'devices of thesaid system. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan viewon the line X X, Fig.2." Fig. 4 is a detail sectional plan viewon the line Y Y, Fig-2; I

The upper end of the mainwater-supply pipe A .here shown is presumed tobe connected with an elevated Water-tank or other water-supply underpressure: and with the I pipe A are connected the distributing-pipes B,which are carried throughout the structure by heat from an adjacentfire, all after awellknown fashion. To secure the action necessaryto theautomatic operation of the mainvalve E from such a rise in temperatureat any point, we have illustrated a contrivance such as is used in acommon dry-pipe system. This comprises an air-chamber F, con- 9. systemwhen any of the sprinklers are affected nected by a branch pipe G to thepart of the. main pipe A in constant communication with the closedsprinkler system, and having a movable diaphragmatic wall H, which isaffected by the air-pressure within the closed pipe system. Thisinternal pressure is presumed in this instance to be maintained nor.-mally at a higher point than the atmosphere by a connecting air-pump Iand the degree of pressure indicated by a pressure-gage J. The diaphragmH is thus pressed normally outward.

With the diaphragm H is connected by a a link H a movable bar H whichnormally supports a drop-arm H and also through a connecting-chain H aweighted lever K, the arrangement being such that when the pressurewithin the closed pipe system falls by the opening of any of thesprinklers the return of the diaphragm H will permit the self-actinglever K to fall.

The valve E, which We prefer to use as the main supply-valve, is one ofthe well-known self-releasing gate pattern, the stem E of which workslengthwise in the stuffing-box L, and it is in the devices for lockingthis valve in closed position and for causing the same to openautomatically with the operation of the self-acting lever K thatourinvention principally consists. a

The stem of the valve E is formed with a series of annular serrations M,and one section L of the stuffing-box L surrounding the serrated stem isarranged to slide laterally between the ends of the remaining sectionsas guides, and is formed on its inner face with serrations correspondingto and adapted when 7 moved inward to engage, as a bolt, those on thevalve-stem E, and thus lock the same, with the valve E, in place.

The sliding section or bolt L has an arm L which is pivotally connectedto an elbowarm K of the lever K, so, that normally the bolt L willbeheld in locking position, but when the lever K falls, as beforedescribed, will be retracted, and the valve E thus freed.

The freed valve-stem E is arranged to be drawn outward and the valve Eopened, in this instance, by a weight N, acting through connected chains0 O, which weight is normally sustained independently of the bolt L byan extra chain 0 having, by preference, an eye or loop 0 which is heldagainst lateral movement by a fixed holder P, and is normally engaged bya finger-catch Q, carried by the arm K of the lever K, so that when thelever K falls the catch Q will be disengaged from the chain or cable 0and the Weight N thus allowed to fall and open the valve E. It

is generally preferred to leave the valve-operating chain 0 slack whenthe weight-chain O is caught, so that when the latteris released theWeight will acquire enough momentum before the strain of the valve isfelt to easily overcome the initial resistance of the valve. Thisinitial resistance being overcome, the valve E, being self-releasing,will easily open.

In order that the valve E may be locked more securely, as when it is tobe left always open in using the system as a wet system, we form boththe fixed and movable sections of the stuffing-box L with registeringexternal screw-threads and adapt the gland S to be screwed as a sleevedown over both, so as to hold the bolt-section L in engagement with thevalve-stem E. 1

Our improvement is similarly applicable t the electric dry-pipe systems,in which the operating-lever K would be released by electrical action.

We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In anautomatic fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the water-supplyvalve, of a weight and connections to operate the said valve, a chain tosupport the said valve-operating weight, a weight-operated leverprovided with a catch to engage and restrain the weight-supporting chainand -a bolt or catch to engage and restrain the valvestem, a support forthe said weighted lever, and a leverreleasing device operated by heat,substantially as described.

2. The herein-described valve-lock,consisting of serrationson thevalve-stem and a serrated bolt adapted to engage the said serrationsonthe valve-stem, as set forth. i

3. The valve-lock herein described, consisting of a serration orshoulder on the valvestem, a stuffing-box surrounding that part of thevalve-stem and having a lateral opening, a bolt working through saidopening to e11- gage the shoulder or serration of the valvestem, and asleeve adapted to screw on the stuffing-box over a part of the saidbolt, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the serrated stem of the main valve, of astuffing-box a section of which is serrated to correspond with the stemand is movable laterally, and means for locking the said movable sectionin place,

substantially as described.

CHAS. H. SIMMONS. JAMES R. HEPBURN.

